Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog

January 2, 2014

A BOSTON CRIMINAL LAWYER WARNS THE PUBLIC ABOUT EMOTIONAL AND VIOLENT CRIMES

Hello and happy new year!

Well, Christmas 2013 has come to an end and 2013 is history. Many folks have found rather interesting ways to celebrate, both in and out of the Commonwealth

Take 52-year-old John Barsell of Middleborough for example. He begins 2014 with two counts of attempted murder and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He’s being held on $50,000 bail at the Plymouth County jail as of Saturday night. Barsell is said to have had an argument with two other men on Christmas morning. The subject matter of the tiff?

December 25, 2013

WALTHAM POLICE ARREST SEVERAL SUSPECTS IN UNARMED ROBBERY INVESTIGATIONS

by Samuel Goldberg

Happy holidays to one and all.

I know that the Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog has not exactly been stellar in terms of regularity of late, something we are working to change come 2014, but I thought I would post this special Christmas Day blog/warning for all of you out there enjoying the day in Massachusetts. The news comes specifically from Waltham.

You may recall that earlier this month, authorities warned Waltham residents that there was a spike in the robberies in the area just east of Moody Street. The robberies typically happened at night over the past month and a half, police said. One victim was attacked from behind by three men on Oak Street and was left with serious head injuries, police said. Police also said two purses were snatched in the upper Main Street area on Wednesday morning, and there was an additional purse snatching since then. Authorities believe the snatchings to be related to one another, but not to the other robberies.

December 20, 2013

HARVARD UNIVERSITY STUDENT IS ARRAIGNED IN BOSTON’S FEDERAL COURT FOR FAKE BOMB THREAT

by Samuel Goldberg

Yes, it is time for final exams in our colleges and universities. No less is true for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And this brings us to Boston’s United States District Court and the alleged breaking of federal criminal law.

Elmo Kim. 20, is a student of Harvard University and, now, is hereinafter referred to as the “Defendant”. He is now off campus and has been released on a $100,000 bond into the custody of his sister and uncle.

Boston’s United States Attorneys Office has alleged that the Defendant sent hoax emails Monday saying shrapnel bombs would go off soon in two of four buildings on Harvard’s Cambridge, Mass., campus. The emails came minutes before he was to take a final exam in one of the buildings. According to the complaint, the Defendant sent emails to Harvard police, two university officials and the president of the Harvard Crimson newspaper, saying bombs had been placed around campus.

December 11, 2013

MASSACHUSETTS LAW ENFORCEMENT USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO AID THEM IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST DRUG, GUN AND SEX CRIMES

by Samuel Goldberg

We all know that the internet and social media phenomenon has decimated many industries. Anyone see Borders Books, Strawberries Music or Blockbuster around lately? There are some areas, however, where the Internet and social media provide great help. One of these areas is in law enforcement.

This blog has covered many stories in which law enforcement has used the Internet to go after folks in the prostitution trade. But it is not anywhere close to being limited to that.

Take the case of Christopher Doherty, for example. This 30-year-old Weymouth gentleman recently posted himself into trouble through craigslist. His post claimed that he was seeking a “sexy coke- friendly hottie to play in the snow with.”. Instead of his “hottie”, Mr. Doherty got the attention of an undercover police officer who spotted the ad and responded.. According to law enforcement, the undercover officer even was even able to get Doherty to send him photographs of the allegedly drugs. Mr. Doherty became a guest of the Commonwealth on December 2nd.

December 9, 2013

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY’S JAMEIS WINSTON WILL NOT FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT

by Samuel Goldberg

Usually, a mere accusation is enough to put someone into the criminal justice hot seat and change their last name to “Defendant”. However, that is not what ended up happening to a certain Florida State quarterback .

Nearly a year after Florida Jameis Winston was accused of rape by a female FSU student, the state attorney has now decided not to charge the Heisman Trophy favorite with the crime alleged.

Last Thursday, Willie Meggs, the state attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit, announced the news during a news conference at the Leon County Courthouse. The news came approximately one full year after Winston was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at an off-campus apartment on Dec. 7, 2012.

December 5, 2013

FELONY CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE BROUGHT IN CASES WHERE THE LIES DO NOT SUIT THE COMMONWEALTH; THE SAGA OF AARON HERNANDEZ’ GIRL FRIEND.

by Samuel Goldberg

In Fall River, another prosecutorial shoe dropped in the ever-expanding Aaron Hernandez case(s).

This time, the criminal justice spotlight fell on the fiancée of the former New England Patriots tight end.

The charge? That she lied to the prosecution.

December 4, 2013

What Should I Do if I Get Stopped by the Police for a Traffic or Moving Violation in Massachusetts?

by Altman & Altman

If you see the blue lights in your rear view mirror there are certain things that you should do and certain things you should not do. Firstly, it is very important to remain calm. Do not drive erratically, do not immediately pull over and do not take too long to pull over. Secondly, do not get out of the vehicle. Thirdly, in a calm manner roll down your window and have your license and registration at the ready. If you do the above, you will already be in good stead with the officer or trooper.

If the officer or trooper asks why you think he pulled you over, it is my opinion, that you should not admit any guilt, nor make any excuses (i.e. I am sorry I was speeding, but I am late to pick up my son from soccer practice.)

Be very courteous and professional with the officer or trooper. You do not necessarily need to be robotic, however, and if you feel you can use your personality to garner favor, I would not advise against that.

November 27, 2013

DEDHAM MAN IS HELD ON HIGH BAIL FOR MASSACHUSETTS ARMED ROBBERIES OF DUNKIN’ DONUTS

by Samuel Goldberg

23-year-old Isaiah Murphy of Dedham (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) is in a great deal of trouble. His alleged crimes in two robberies may well bring him the blame for many more.

You may have noticed over the past months that there had been a rash of robberies at various Dunkin’ Donuts shops in the Commonwealth. Well, the Defendant has been arrested for allegedly robbing a particular Canton Dunkin’ Donuts twice (on June 30th and July 24th). Now, the former Dunkin’ ex-employee is being considered for responsibility for more than a dozen other Dunkin’ robberies

While the Defendant has not yet been charged with the other robberies, there was no stopping the Commonwealth from arguing the suspicion at today’s bail hearing.

November 21, 2013

A BOSTON CRIMINAL LAWYER DISCUSSES LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS DARTMOUTH STUDENT IN HIT AND RUN CASE

by Samuel Goldberg

You may have already heard about the legal trouble 18-year-old Eric Megna (hereinafter, the “Defendant”), of Middleborough is in.

He has now been arraigned in connection with a hit and run motor vehicle accident which took the life of 58-year-old Michael Dutra back in October.

The accident was enough to change the Defendant’s young life. The allegations which followed the accident make the situation far worse. He is accused of leaving the scene and fabricating explanations for the damage found in his SUV when it was being fixed.

November 13, 2013

FEDERAL CRIMINAL SENTENCING COMES TO A CLOSE FOR JAMES “WHITEY” BULGER

by Samuel Goldberg

The final act, at least until the appeals, of the United States v. James “Whitey” Bulger has taken place. Apparently keeping the tradition of this case in erring on the side legal danger, the court sided with the Government this morning as to whether families of people. Bulger was not convicted of killing can testify as to the damage he did to them as a result said killings.

Under the popular myth of “innocent until proven guilty”, of course, those would be the killings which Bulger was not guilty of…by any theory proposed by the Government.

Surely, you know the story by now…